Public health physician and policy advocate, Dr. Laz Eze, has credited former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, with using infrastructure development to address street disorder and criminal activity in parts of Onitsha during his administration.
The comments were made during an interview on Volume Pod, on Friday, 5 June, 2026, while reflecting on Obi’s years in office, Eze argued that targeted infrastructure projects played a significant role in transforming areas that had previously been associated with congestion, informal activities, and security concerns.
According to Eze, one of the challenges facing Onitsha at the time involved the presence of groups commonly referred to as Bakassi Boys and agberos, who operated in parts of the city. He suggested that rather than relying solely on enforcement measures, Obi pursued an approach that combined urban renewal with efforts to create a more organized environment.
Describing the intervention, Eze said: “The Bakassi guys operating in Onitsha and Agbero people. He came and used infrastructure from head bridge, made a 10 lane with street light and got them off the street.”
He argued that the project helped reshape the area around the Head Bridge axis, improving mobility and changing the physical landscape of the city. According to Eze, the development demonstrated how infrastructure could be used as a tool for addressing social challenges while also supporting commerce and public safety.
